Thai court opens way for poll delay

Anti-government protesters march past a poster of Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra during a rally in central Bangkok January 24, 2014. [Photo/Agencies]

BANGKOK - Thailand's Constitutional Court opened the way on Friday to delay a general election the government has set for February 2, a ruling that could further drag out the country's political deadlock, already in its third month.

The Election Commission sought court approval to postpone the election, arguing that the country was so unsettled it would be impossible to hold a successful vote now.

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra called the election last month in the hope of confirming her grip on power in the face of mass anti-government protests trying to force her from office.

The court ruling appeared to fudge a decision. While it gave the Election Commission the right to postpone the election, it also ruled that the commission would have to agree on a new date with the government.

The government has refused to accept a delay in the vote which it would almost certainly win and which the opposition says it will boycott.

Varathep Rattankorn, a minister at the prime minister's office, said the government wanted to read the full ruling before deciding what to do next.

One election commissioner, speaking to Reuters, said the vote could still go ahead on February 2 if Yingluck's government dug in its heels.

"We will ask to meet with the prime minister and her government on Monday to discuss a new election date," election commissioner Somchai Srisuthiyakorn said. "If the government doesn't agree to postpone the election, then the election will go ahead."

He said that advanced voting for eligible voters could go ahead as planned on Sunday.

The government declared a 60-day state of emergency from Wednesday hoping to prevent an escalation in protests.

A leading pro-government activist was shot and wounded the same day in northeast Thailand, a Yingluck stronghold, in what police said was a political attack, adding to fears the violence could spread.

Nine people have died and dozens been wounded in violence, including two grenade attacks in the capital last weekend.

Anti-government firebrand and protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban, accusing the government of mass corruption, wants it to step aside and a "people's council" appointed to push through electoral and political changes.

He has yet to comment publicly on the court ruling.

The protests are the latest eruption in a political conflict that has gripped the country for eight years.

Broadly, it pits the Bangkok middle class and royalist establishment against the mainly poorer supporters of Yingluck and her brother, ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra, who was toppled by the military in 2006.